Marking apparatus



Juiy 8, 1952 M. HICHEY MARKING APPARATUS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed April 26, 1948 FIG. '1' 90 4o 32 J6 INVENTOR.

Y 6 W m1 0. m( 4 MB y 1952 M. HERSCHEY 2 6M393 MARKING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fae.

Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE l't iARKING APPARATUS Malcolm Hirschey, Woodside, N. Y., assigncr, by mesne assignments, to Adolph Gottseho, Inc,

Hillside, N. J., a corporation of New York Application April 26, 1948, Serial No. 23,213

' 17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in marking apparatus and is particularly directed to apparatus or devices for marking continuously moving articles. Y

In the marking of continuously moving articles, such as packages, bottles, cans or the like, which are moved by a conveyor to a marking station. it is important that each successively advanced article receives the complete impression and that the impression is applied to each article in approximately the same position; It isxalso important in the apparatus for accomplishing such marking, that the die Wheel or marking element be traveling at a peripheral speed equal tothe linear speed of the moving articles at the instant marking, whereby to prevent blurring of the impression. In such devices or apparatus wherein the die wheel is driven by a sprocket and chain, those elements must be. remotely. disposed relatively to each other, whereby not to'interfere with proper contact between the diewheel, and

the articles to be marked. In such apparatus,

the disposition of the sprocket and chain remotely from the die wheel, generally renders the apparatus very cumbersome. 1

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a neat compact apparatus which overcomes the objections and disadvantages of prior apparatus.

Another object resides in the provision of apparatus of the character indicated which will automatically and effectively apply desired marking in the same position on successively advanced artieleswithout blurring of the impression.

Another object is the provision of apparatus of the character indicated wherein a driving sprocket for the die wheel is sodisposed in juxtaposition to the 'die' wheel that there will be no interference with the advancing articles.

Another object resides, in the provision of means for adjusting the surface speed of the die wheel relatively to that of the articles 5,

A further objects resides in .the provision of v apparatus of the character indicated for marking various shaped articles, including flat sided articles as well as .convexsided articles' sure between the die wheel and the articles.

Other and further objects of the invention will be manifest from the following description and 'the accompanying drawings; in which drawingsr i A further object resides in the provision of -'ad-. justable means for regulating the contact. presof the advancing articles.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of die wheel in position adjacent a conveyorfor articles to be marked;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line,5-5 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail a conveyor 10, for articles [2 to be marked, is supported on standards Hi. A bracket l6, for supporting the marking device of the present invention, is pivotally mounted on a shaft l8, the lower end of which is supported in a. threaded hole in a base 2!]. The lower end of the shaft 18 is screw threaded whereby the height of the bracket [6 maybe adjusted bymeans of a nut 22, which nut also secures the shaft rigidly in the base '20.

By adjusting the height of the bracket IBthe vertical position of the marking on the articles can bevaried.

The bracket I6 is providedwith bearing members 24 for rotatably supporting a shaft 26 on which adie wheel 28 is fixed. The die wheel 28 has a plurality of impression applying elements 38 secured on its periphery, in predetermined spaced relation, by means of adhesive or any other suitable means, and has an integral hub 32 projecting from its upper face, on which a sprocket 34 of smaller diameter than, the die wheel is mounted for driving the die wheel. By reason of the difference in the diameters of the diewheel and the sprocket, the die wheel will be driven at a greater surface speed than that pointed out hereinafter, the surface speed of the die wheel will be. equalized with that of the moving articles at the instant of marking. Also by reason of the die wheel diameter being greater than that of the sprocket the die wheel will engagethe articles tobe marked withoutinterfer- 'ence from the sprocket,

The sprocket 34. and the die wheel 28 are adjustable relatively to each other, by means of arcuate'slots 36, formed in the sprocket, whereby to'initially bring the impression. elements into the bolts 38 are tightened to retain the sprocket However, as will be and die wheel in their adjusted positions. It will be seen that by reason of the connection of the sprocket to the die wheel by means of the screw or bolts 38, the sprocket when driven will in turn drive the die wheel.

A sprocketchain 49 passes about the sprocket 34 and about idler sprockets 42 and 44. The latter sprockets are freely rotatable on studs 46 and 48, respectively, carried by a plate 50 on the bracket [6. The plate 59 is adjustable on the bracket [6 by means of an arcuate slot 52 .therein and a screw 54, whereby the tension of the chain may be adjusted as desired.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the periphery;of the idler sprocket 42 is further removed from the conveyor I9 and the path of travel of the articles l2 than the periphery of the sprocket 34, whereby the lead of the chain adjacent the conveyor will travel at an angle to the path of travel of the articles to be marked, the purpose of which -will be described hereinafter.

The chain 4ll-is provided with a plurality of lugs or flights 56, secured thereto in predetermined spaced relation, five' of which are shown inthe drawings, but any desired number may be employed depending on the length of the articles to be marked. The lugs or flights 56 comprise upper-and lower walls'58 and 69, respectively, (Fig. 2) which are preferably triangularin shape and eachis connected by a web 62. The upper andlower walls of each lug has a pair of aper- -tures formed therein, adjacent to two of 7 its angles, for the reception of pins 64 which-pass through apertures in opposite'ends of a single link of the chain 49 and through the leading and trailing ends of adjacent linksr. These pins, as will be seen from Fig. 2, constitute the connecting pivot pins of adjacentlinks of the chain, and each projectsabove the upper wall of its lug. The projecting portion of each: pin has a roller bearing BS secured thereto, and held 'thereon bypeening overthe upper end of the pin or by other suitable means. The inner race" of each of the-bearings, as' will be seen from Fig. 2, extends below the outer race and engages the upper face of the upper "wall of thelu'g '56.

A cover plate 19, for the sprockets andchain, "is=supported on the bracket l6, by angleiiron "supports lz; and has a-track 14 formed'gin its --underface in which theroller bearings 68 of-the lugs-56 ride during-theoperation 'of the apparatus. The track 14 is concentrically disposed relatively to a portion of the periphery-of the sprocketii land then extends in a direction tan- 3 mally in engagement with a flange 99 of an ink transfer roller 92, which in turn is normally in engagement with an inking roller 94. The rollers -92 and 94 are rotatably mounted on shafts 95 secured to a triangular plate 96 carried on a shaft 98 which in turn is pivotally mounted in the bracket l6.'-'=The shaft 98 carries a torsion gentthereto along the edge of the cover plate adjacent; the conveyor l9 and serves as a-guide for one-lead of the chain -49. The apexof the 1ug s-56projectsbeyond the said edge of v the cover plate and when advanced to thetangential, portion of the track'M-willproject partially over the conveyor [9, wherebytobe engaged by the "moving articles and effect drivingloftthe-cham -40 and rotationof .thedie wheel'to bring the impression applying .'.elements 30 intocontact with the articles, as'will bedescribed-in-rgreater .detailchereinafter;

Adjustable stop means, for regulating the con- :tactspressure between the-die wheel and the articles; isprovided in the form of a screw 16, secured .toi one of therssupporting standards [4 ofttheiconveyor, whereby toiproject beyond the :bracket [6. This screw is adjustable. longitudinally:of its. axis 'and'is adapted to 'besecured .in.."adjusted position-by anut;89.-. A spring 182 is provided forxetaining-the bracket l 6 in rengagement with the end of the screw 16. One

' ferent widths. lateral movement of the articles on the conveyor -spring' l92fone'end of which is secured thereto and the other end. of which engages a pin I94 on the bracket-l6, whereby the plate 96 resiliently holds the transfer roller 92 in engagement with the flange 88 and the impression elements 30 on the periphery of the die wheel 28, to efi'ect rotation of "the transfer'roller. and the transfer of ink to 'the impression' elements.

At the markingstation, where the marking device of the present invention .islocated, a

guideshoe .91 is secured to the conveyor support at theside of. the conveyor opposite the marking device. This shoe is adjustable transversely of thev conveyor, by'means of a screw 99, whereby to accommodate articles of dif- :The :shoes serves to prevent when the articles'are engaged by the die wheel,

and also serves as aguide for the articles'as they are .moved past the marking station.

A conventional friction. brake 103 is provided on the lower'endofthe die wheel shaft- 26 to prevent over-running of the die wheel.

a As previously mentioned-one of the features of the'.' present invention is the provision of a sprocket ofsmaller'diameter than the die wheel,

wherebythe sprocket-"will not project into the path ofthe movingarticles and thereby inter- "surface speed of-thedie'wheel being greaterthan the speed-of the moving articles, which articles, as previously mentioned; effect the driving of the sprocket through the sprocket chain. However, when the articles'engage thelugs 56 and move them and -the 'chain in a pathtangent to the 55' circular path about-the die wheel, the speediof rotation of the die wheel will bereduced. This speed maybe-regulated by adjusting the'pivoted end of the bracket 1 6 relatively to the conveyor, whereby to vary the angularity ofthe track- 14 relatively-tame conveyor I9 and the path .of travel of the articles.

The angularity of 'the track14 relatively to thewpath of travel of the articles is adjustablerby adjusting; I the position of i the base 20 011".th6

'machine bed. 2|, xwh'ereby to: move the pivoted inthe -machine :bed: -2 I, Upon loosening the screws l'l l3-1and;-l2ll, the "base -20- may then be .movedmanuallyeon the machine bed 2|, carrying with it the supporting shaft l8 fof--the bracket l6, whereby the pivoted end of the v speed of the articles.

bracket IE will be moved toward or away from bracket is still maintained in engagement with the stop screw l6 by the spring 82. g r

, Theadjustability of the pivoted, end' of the bracket l6, as will be understood from the foregoing description, provides for effecting a variation of the angular relationship of the track Hi, and the lead of the sprocket chain adjacentthe conveyor I0, with the path of travel'of the moving; articles, whereby the peripheral speed of the die wheel, during the travel of the chain in its tangential path between the sprockets 34 and 42, may be varied and equalized with the linear In operation, the articles are conveyed bythe conveyor II], in the conventional manner, to the marking station where the marking apparatus of, the present invention is located. As an article approaches the station, one of the lugs or flights 56 will be projecting into its path and will therefore be engaged thereby, whereupon linear motion is imparted to the chain 40, which in turn will impart rotaryv motion to the die wheelthrough means of the sprocket 34. As the ychain begins'to move forward initially; the peripheral speed at which it drives'the die wheel will be greater than the linear speed of the articles,,due to the differential in diameters of the sprocket 34 and the die wheel 28, as previously mentioned, but the approaching article to, be marked has not yet reached the diewheel. However, assuming that the angle at which the lead of the chain adjacent the conveyor travelsaway from the conveyor has been properly adjusted, then by the time the article has reached the die wheel, the peripheral speedof the die wheel will be equal to the linea-rspeed of the moving articles to be marked. Accordingly, immediately before, during and immediately following the -mounted thereon, contact the articles.

6 and the adjacent lead of the sprocket chain may be less than when using the circular die wheel 28 to mark fiat articles.

As the die wheel W6 is rotated by the sprocket chain the curved areas H0 on its periphery pass between the articles to be marked, while the flat areas IE8, or at least the impression elements By reason of the alternate fiat and curved areas on the periphery of the die wheel 106, the impression element will engage and roll against the convex side of the article and when it disengages. the

article the curved'areas will be rotated into the space between the marked article and thesucceeding article, so that there will .be no lateral movement of the bracket l6 away from the conveyor which will occur if a circular die wheel In other Words; the marking of convex articles is effected with the same smoothness of operation of the device as when fiat sided articles are It will also. be seen that the apparatus of the 'present inventioncan be adjusted to accommodate'the apparatus to the marking ofvarious sizes ofarticles and to vary the surface speed of the die wheel to correspond to that fof the various sizes of articles.

marking operation the surface-speeds of the die wheel and the movingv articles will be equal so thata perfect impressionwill be applied to the article without blurring. v As the die wheel isrotated the transferroller 92 transfers ink from the inking roller 94 to theIimpression elements 3il,- which in turn transfers the ink to the articles in the impression provided for by the elements.

Referring to the modification shown in Fig. 4, the die wheel I96 instead ofbeing. perfectly circular, as is thedie wheel of Fig, l, is in the form of a cam having alternate cam areas comprising arcs of alternate radii. The arcs havin the longer. radii are substantially fiat, or semi flat, While the arcs having the shorter radii are of a preceptable curve. These areas, therefore, for convenience ofdescription, will be referred to respectively as flat areaslll8 and curved areas I Ill. The impression elements 30 are mounted on -,:In thisformyas in; the form shown, in Fig. 1,

--, thesprocket ,on the die wheel IE6 is of a smaller diameter thanthat of the die wheel 28, whereby V the chain will not project intothe path of the moving articles to interfere therewith. ,The diewheel 106 of ,4 maybe substituted for the die wheel-28 of-Fig. 1-; In using, the die wheel 106 to mark convex articles however, the anglebetween' thepath, of travel of the articles While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of'my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to structural features and arrangement of parts of those embodiments, as obviously variousv changes and modifications may be made thereinqwithout departing from the spirit and scope of ,my invention. 1

What I claim is: 1 A device for marking moving articles movmg along a straight path of travel comprising a rotatable impression element, an endless flexi-ble member operatively connectedto said element with a moment arm less than the radius of said element to effect rotation thereof, means carried by said member projecting into the path of travel of the moving articles for engagement thereby to effect driving of said member, and means for-guiding a run of saidarticle-driven flexible member at an angle to the path of travel of the articles, whereby to equalize the peripheral speed of the said element with the linearspeed of the moving articles. I

2. A device for marking moving articles moving along a straight path of travel comprising a piv- -.otally mounted bracket, a rotatableimpression element mounted, thereon, a plurality of spaced apart sprocketsone of which has a radiusless than the radius of said element and is, connected to the latter for rotation therewith, an endless sprocket chain passing over. said sprockets and having a straight run, article contacting members carried by said chain'and projecting into thev notion of the element at a .surfacel. speed. equal to that of the moving articles.

3. Apparatus for markingarticles moving alo 1' member. and effect "rotation of the :drumy-iand mmeans 'guidingwsaid driven flexible memberin a lcircular path of smallerlradius thanthew radius lof. said drum and the straight run'portion thereof J in a. path. tangent to said circular pathat" an angleto the path of travel of'themovingarticles, whereby to rotatessaid drumat a surface speed greater than that of the moving articles mduringr the travelof the projecting means along ...said circular path and at a speed'equal to that f the moving articles during :the'travel of the J projecting means alongsaid tangential straight run.

; 4'. Apparatus for marking articles-moving along aistraight path of travelcomprising a rotatable :sdrum having an impression element on the pe- 'riphery thereof, an endless flexible member operatively connected to said drum and :having a t, straightrun,.meanscarriedby said fiexiblemember projecting into the path of the moving articles for engagement thereby to drive the-flexible member andeffect rotation ofxthe drum; means guiding said driven flexible member in a circular 1 drum and the straight run 'portionfithereofin :r a pathtangent to said circular "path" at an angle path of smaller radius i than the radius of said to the path of travelof the :moving articles,

- whereby-to rotate said drum at azsurfacespeed greater than that of (the movinglarticlesduring the travel of' the'projecting means along said circularspath *andat a speed equal: to'that-of 'the moving articleszduring the travel of'theprojectingmeans along said tangentiafstraight run,

and inking means" operatively engaging said impression element.

5. Apparatus for marking articlesmoving along a'straight path offltravelcomprising a rotatable 1 *drum having. an "impression element on the-periphery thereof; an endless flexible member operatively connected to said drum and having a straight run, means carried by said fiexible memberprojecting into the path of the moving-arti- 'cles'for engagement therebyto drive thefiexible 'member and effect rotation 'of'the drum, means guiding saiddriven flexible member in acircuv lar path of smaller radius than th-eradius ofsaid "dr'um and the straight run portion thereof in a path tangent'to said circular p'athat auahgle toithe path of travel of 'the m'ovingarticles,

whereby to rotate said drum-at a surface speeds vgreater than that of the 'moving' articles-during the travel of the-projecting; means along-said circular'path and at a speed equal to that'of the. moving articles during the travel of the-projecting means along said tangentialstraightrun;

- and adjustable means operatively 1 connected to said guiding means adapted to: vary the angle formed between said tangential straight run and the path of travel of thearticles. 6. A device forlmarking' 'articles movingalong a straight path of travel comprising a die wheel having an'impression element-onthe periphery thereof; a sprocket operativelyconnected to said wheel and having a 'radiusl'ess than that of the latter; an idler sprocket; a sprocket-chain about said sprockets; means-carried bymsaid :chainsprojecting into the- -path of the moving article's for engagement thereby-ta drive the: chain and' efiect rotation of the. "wheel :s'aid sprockets -being rotatable about parallel spaced apart.,:-axes with the periphery of said idler sprocket being spaced f-rom said path or? travel adistance greateri than 1 the distance :thelper-ipheryof- -said first mentioned sprocket is spaced 'from said path of travel,

whereby the chain after passing in afcircular path about the first mentioned-sprocket willzpass 4 in a-path tangential-to saidiicirculan-path 'and at an angle to the pathoftraveh'of ':the: moving articles," to effect rotationof: the said wheel at a surface speed greater than -that of the' m'oving articles "during -the travel of rtheprojecting means -alongsaid -circular path' and at a speed equalto that or the moving articles during-"the "travel of the projecting means along-said tangential -path.

' 7. A devicefor marking articles moving along a straight \path oftraveLcomprising adie wheel having =animpression element on the periphery thereof; a sprocketco'peratively connected'to said wheel and having a -radius'les's than the zrad-ius of the latter,-an' idlersprocket; a sprocket" chain I about said sprockets; meanscarri'ed by said chain projecting into the -path of -the moving=-'articles for engagement thereby to drive the chain-and .effect rotationof the wheel said sprockets heing rotatable about--pai:allel =spaced apart a'xes with the periphery -of said *idler sprockehbeing spaced fromsaid path' of travel a' distance g-reater than the distance-the periphery ofsaid firstmen- -tioned sprocket: is*-'- spaced from'--"said-'-path of travel, wherebythe chain *after- -passingiin a circular path- I: about I? the: first/ mentioned sprocket wilt-pass in a-'- path--'tangential-to said- -circular path 1 and at an I angle to the path-"- of travel of 40' themov-ing articles to 'eifect rotation of :th'e said v wheel at a' surface speed--greater*than" that''of tangential path-,'- and= means for adjusting the idler sprocket relatively to t'hepathof'the" moving the moving: articlesduring the travel of'the projectingmeans-along said-circular pathlahd at a speed equal to that of the-moving articles cluring' the travel of theproj ecting-means along-said articles to vary' the angle of 'the tangential path of the chain relatively -to th'e-'p'ath of theuneving articles. a

8-. A1:device'for marking artic'les'movingalong a -'straight path'- of; travel comprising a diewheel having an -impression element on the periphery thereof; a sprocketchain =operatively connected to said die wheel projecting members fixedly --carr-ied bycertain of the links of--'-said chain in predetermined spaced relation and "projecting into the path' of the .m'oving': articles'for engagement thereby to *drive' -th'e said 'chain whe'reby' to effect rotation of the-die wheel;-rollers -associated with said-projecting members; anda=track-in H Which-' said rollersride to g-uide -said chain- 'in a circular path eon'centric :to theaxis of rotation of said wheel: andrh'aving a -radi-us' less/than the radius "of the latter and in a -:path:--tangent to said circular path at an angle to the path of travel of the: moving articlesp wherebythe said wheel will be rotatedat a: surface spe'ed greater i then I that of the'::-moving ar-ticles 'during the travel of the proj ectin'g members along -said circular path and I at a'ispe'ed: equal -to that of -the 1 moving :articles during-the travel of t'he" project- -ing: membersl alongez-said= tangential path.

if 9.- A=devicefiforzmarking articles moving:along l a: straight lpathpf: travel comprising a pi'votally mounted bracket; a die wheelrotatably mounted thereon for contactv with the articles; a sprocket operatively connected to said die wheel and having a radius less than the radius of the latter; a sprocket chain passing about said sprocket; a plurality of lugs fixedly carried bycertain links of said chain in predetermined spaced relation and "projecting into the path of the moving articles for engagement thereby to drive the chain and eiiect rotationof the die wheel; rollers asso-' 10. A device for marking articles moving along a straight path of travel comprising a pivotally mounted bracket; a die wheel rotatably mounted thereon for contact with thearticles; a sprocket operatively connected to said die wheel and having a radius .less than the radius of thelatter; a sprocket chain passing about said sprocket;

a plurality of lugs fixedly carried by certain links of said chain in predetermined spaced relation and projecting into the path of the moving articles for engagement thereby to drive the chain and effect rotation of the die wheel; rollers associated with said lugs; a track receiving said rollers and guiding the lugs and chain in a path tangent to the circular path about said sprocket and at an angle to the'path of travel of the moving articles, whereby the said die wheel will be rotated at a surface speed greater than that of the moving articles during the travel of the chain and lugs in a circular path and at a speed equal to that of the moving articles during the travel of the chain and lugs in the said tangential path, and means for adjusting the height of said bracket for positioning the die wheel vertically relatively to the articles.

11. A device for marking articles moving along a straight path of travel comprising a pivotally mounted bracket; a die wheel rotatably mounted thereon for contact with the articles; a sprocket operatively connected to said die wheel and having a radius less than the radius of the latter; a sprocket chain passing about said sprocket; a plurality of lugs fixedly carried by certain links of said chain in predetermined spaced relation and projecting into the path of the moving articles for engagement thereby to drive the chain and effect rotation of the die wheel; rollers associated with said lugs; a track receiving said rollers and guiding the lugs and chain in a path tangent to the circular path about said sprocket and at an angle to the path of travel of the moving articles, whereby the said die wheel will be rotated at a surface speed greater than that of the moving articles during the travel of the chain and lugs in a circular path and at a speed equal to that of the moving articles during the travel of the chain and lugs in the said tangential pat-h; resilient means holding said bracket in juxtaposition to the moving articles; and adjustable means for regulating the contact of the die wheel with the articles.

a plurality of spaced apartsprockets rotatable about axes parallel to, the axis of rotation'of said element, one of said sprockets having a radius less than the distance from the impression surface of said element to the axis of rotation of said shaft and being disposed concentric with said shaft and secured to said element for rotation with the latter; an endless sprocket chain passing over saidsprockets, one" run of said chain extending at an angle to the path of travel of said articles; and article contacting members carried by said chain and pro-f jecting laterally of the chain while moving along said one run of the latter into the'path of travel of the moving articles to be driven thereby, the

angular relation of said one run to the path of travel being such as to equalize the peripheral speed of said element with the linear speed of the moving articles.

13. A device for marking articles bracket assembly resiliently maintaining the lat-' ter in selected position relative to said P th of travel; an impression element rotatably carried by said bracket assembly intermediate theends. thereof in juxtaposition tothe moving articles'jjj a plurality of spaced apart sprockets" on said bracket assembly rotatable about axes parallel to the axis of rotation of said element, one of said sprockets having a radius less than the distance between the impression surface of said element and the axis of rotation of the latter and being disposed concentric with the axis of rotation of said element and secured to the latter for rotation therewith; an endless sprocket chain passing over said sprockets, one run of said chain extending at an angle to the path of travel of the articles; and article contacting members carried by said chain and projecting laterally therefrom into the path of travel of the articles to be driven thereby while moving along said one run of said chain, the angle between said one run of the chain and the path of travel of the articles being sufiicient to equalize the peripheral speed of said element with the linear speed of the moving articles.

14. A device for marking articles according to claim 13, wherein said means engaging the other end of said bracket assembly includes a spring member constantly urging said bracket assembly to pivot towards the path of travel of the articles to thereby eiTect contact of each successively advanced article with said impression element; and

12. A device for marking articles moving in a comprising an impression element; a shaft rotatably carrying said an adjustable spacing member carried by said base engaging said other end of said bracket assembly and adapted to limit the pivoting of the latter towards the path of travel to thereby control the printing pressure of said impression elethereby vary the angle that said one run of said chain forms with respect to said path of travel of the articles.

16. In combination with apparatus for continuously advancing spaced apart articles having convex surfaces along a straight path of travel to a marking station; a rotatable die wheel for marking the convex surfaces of the article at mo in straight path of travel comprising a base fixedly disposed relative to said path of travel; a" pivot member carried bysaid base abracket assembly. mounted adjacent one end thereof on" said pivot.

membem means engaging the other end of said 11 said-marking station-said. die- Wheel having a A circumferentially spaced series ofmonvexperiph eral \areas. each of a radiusgreatenthan theradial distancefromtheraxis. of rotationof said. wheel to the .center of saidconvex area, .the cir-.

cumferential spacing Joetween said peri-pherah;

areas. being. the same :as the distance ioetween, thesuccessive advancing articles, impression elements carried vicy. said peripheral. -a1'eas-,..and v means. driven. by. the advancing articlesv opera: tivelyconnected tosaid die -Whee1to rotate\ the lattenandmove-said impression elements successively into engagement withthe advancing artic1es..,.

17.-. Incombination Withapparatus for continuous1y..;advancing spacedlarticlesr having .convex surfacesalonga straightv path .of travel-to va marking stationpa rotatable-die. Wheel at said. marking station for marking the convexsurfaces of ,the advancingarticles; said die wheeLhaving a .circumferentiallyspaced series of convex'pela ripheral .areas each of a radiusigreaterxthanithe. 1 radialndistance .from. the .axis ..of. rotation of .said Wheel v.to- .the reenter. of. said. convex: -area,.:. the circumferential spacing between saidv peripheral areasrbeing .the same as. thedistance-between. the. successive advancing-articlesaimpression elee..-

ments... carriedby. said. peripheral areas means sprocket to follow-a circular path.:-around-.the latter, meansguiding. said chaineto -f01low.--a straight lead tangential .to :saidcurved path, spaced. article; engaging members on saidrchain'. -to .project' from the latter while .-following said straight. leadinto said path of travel -ofathe =advancing articles toioerengagedtherebyto drive. thechain and efiectfrotation of said die-wheel so that. said impression elements are successively.- movedintoengagementwith the advancing 'articles; a bracket pivotally mounted adjacent one. end and supporting said die ,wh-eel'; sprocket and chain; and :means foradjusting. said bracket. relative-tosaid path-of. traveliof the --.artic1es to dispose said straight .lead of the chains at-ranangle tosaidpath so thatthe peripheral speedeof said impression elements-is the sameeasthespeed":

of-the advancing articles.

7 MALCOLM HIRSCHEYZ- REFERENCES CITED The following --referencesare of record in. the file'ofz-this patent:- e

UNirEp STATES PATENTS 2,345,870 1 Guenther .Apr, .4, 

